Improvement in shot-cartridges



L. B. BBUE'N.

Cartridge.

Patented-Jan. 27, 1863 PETERS, PI-Im'u-LrmoGRAPaER, WASHINGTON D c.

UNITED STATES.

PATENT OFFICE.

LEWIS B. BRUEN, OF BROOKLYN, NEW YORK.

IMPROVEMENT- IN SHOT-CART RIDGE-S.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 37 ,491, dated January27, 1863.

To all whom it may concern Be it known that I, LEWIS B. BRUEN, ofBrooklyn, in the county of Kings and State of New York, have inventedcertain new and useful Improvements in the Manufacture of Bird and BuckShot Cartridges; and I hereby declare the following to be a full, clear,and exact description of the same, reference being had to theaccompanying drawing, in which the several figures represent, inillustration of my invention, both the ordinary shot-cartridge and myimproved cartridge, also modifications and applications of the same.

The object of my invention is to render ordinary cartridges, made ofpaper, muslin, or other suitable fabric or material, and containin gbird and buck shot, more compact and hard than those heretofore in use,without thereby rendering the envelope incombustible; and my inventionconsists in dipping the shot-case, after being filled with shot, intocollodion, or its equivalent, and allowing the case or cartridge sodipped to dry in the air.

My invention is based on the discovery that when paper is dipped incollodion it will, while drying, powerfully contract, and remain socontracted when dry, and at the same time acquire a hard, smooth, orglazed surface, with increased combustibility.

To carry this my invention into effect I proceed as follows: I preparethe shot-case of paper, muslin, or other strong and suitable fabric, inthe same manner as heretofore practiced-t'. 6., I form it into acylinder by wrapping it one or more times around a stick or form forthat purposemade. The overlapping edge is then pasted down with someadhesive substance, preferably the ordinary glue. To preserve thecylindrical form of the shotcase I use a wad, which may be made eitherof felt, pasteboard, leather, or other convenient and suitable material,and insert it in the case at one ofits ends, previous toits being filledwith shot.

The shot is then poured into the case, and another wad is put on top ofit to close it. The paper of the case (if paper be used) is then trimmedflush with the wads. The cartridge thus made is dipped into thecollodion, Whose requisite semi-fluid condition ought to be maintainedthroughout the whole operation. The cases are then allowed to dry in aroom at the ordinary temperature.

The effect of the collodion on the paper will be that of powerfulcontraction, and the shot in the case will thereby be so tightly packedas to form a massv nearly compact. In order successfully to producehardness of the case, I deem it important to use, before dipping, at thetwo ends of the case, wads, as before described. By this means thecylinder will be constrained with uniformity, both transversely andlongitudinally, to contract.

If the wads within the cartridge-case be also contracted by the actionofthe collodion, I use outside wads of a size to suit the caliber of thegun the cartridge is to be used in.

These wads are attached to the outside of the shot-case by somecementing substance; but if dipped together with the cartridgecase, Imake them either of some material less yielding to contraction or of alarger size to compensate therefor.

If it be desirable that the shot-case should be of a smaller diameterthan the bore of the gun or the diameter of the wads, I apply to thefilled cartridge-cases wads of a larger diameter.

In Figure 1 of the accompanying drawing I have shown a shot-cartridge ofthe usual construction. Fig. 2 is a representation of a cartridge madein accordance with my invention. In Fig. 3 I have shown a bird and buckshot case provided with outside wads of a diameter larger than that ofthe case. Figs. 4 and 5 are sectional views of shot-cartridges, with acompacted or pressed powder-charge, made in accordance with Doremus &Budds patent of March 18, 1862, attached.

My improved cartridges, on account of their hardness, are less liable toinjury in transportation, and the compactness of the charge allows themto be fired with much greater precision and range than any othershot-cartridges here tofore in use.

Having thus fully described my invention and the manner in which thesame is or may be carried into effect, I shall state my claims safollows:

1. The method herein described of forming bird and buck shot cartridgesby dipping cases filled with shot in collodion, in the manner and forthe purposes herein set forth.

2. In combination with the above, the use of wads made in the manner andfor the purpose set forth.

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification beforetwo subscribing witnesses.

Witnesses:

A. POLLOK,

WM. H. HARRISON.

LEWIS B. BRUEN.

